Removal of trees on former Ciba-Geigy property in Cranston stirs neighbors’ mistrust

CRANSTON  The removal of a row of pine trees on the former Ciba-Geigy property has some residents concerned about diminished property values and has rekindled animosities against the chemical company,...

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By
Tatiana Pina
Posted Jul. 11, 2013 @ 12:01 am

CRANSTON  The removal of a row of pine trees on the former Ciba-Geigy property has some residents concerned about diminished property values and has rekindled animosities against the chemical company, which until recently had been remediating contamination on the property for years.

BASF, which purchased the Ciba Corp. in 2009, cut 56 mature white pines that tower over the neighborhood and left 31 standing in an area between one of its buildings at 180 Miller St. and houses along Robert Circle. The company removed the trees and trimmed others after receiving complaints from neighbors that the trees posed a danger when branches fell onto residential properties.

Residents that abutted the property were given the choice of eliminating the trees or keeping them, according to David Turner, BASF idle sites manager. The company owns about 32 acres off Miller Street with three buildings that are now mostly empty. The neighborhood boasts trim, well-kept single-family houses.

Gail and Robert Donnelly, who live on Robert Circle but do not abut the property, said that clearing the trees left the large, unsightly BASF building in full view and they claimed it diminished their property value. It also raised the question of what the company will do with buildings that have been idle for nearly 30 years and the property contaminated with toxic chemicals, which has gone through years of remediation.

My house just went down in value and now Im looking at this brick building, Gail Donnelly said.

Gail Donnelly said she was so upset as she watched a tree company hired by BASF removing the trees with a crane that she went over and sat on a stump to protest. She was asked to leave by the police.

Ian Franent, of 56 Robert Circle, who said his disabled mother-in-law sometimes sits outside in the yard, said he was glad that the trees that threatened his property had been removed.

Some residents questioned Tuesday as the tree removal began said they had also opted to remove the trees. Others said they wanted them saved.

BASF spokeswoman Donna Jakubowski said the company hired Warwick Tree Service to examine the trees and the tree company determined that the white pines are brittle and susceptible to damage during winter and fall storms when they grow as tall as they had.

Frank Battaglia, an environmental engineer with the Environmental Protection Agency, said BASF has paused the remediation to test soil and sample water on the Mill Street property to check contamination levels. When BASF has its test results, it will turn them over to the EPA and they will determine a plan of action according to results.

Cranston Councilman Steve Stycos said there have been a couple of public meetings to fill residents in on what is happening with the site but there is a history of mistrust.